We continue a series of excerpts from Pope Francis’ recent encyclical, Fratelli Tutti — “all brothers and sisters.” Several dozen parishioners recently partici- pated in a discussion series in which many were struck by his awareness of the “real world” and the challenge of his message. In this excerpt the Holy Father addresses “the illusion of communication.” ODDLY ENOUGH, WHILE closed and intol- erant attitudes towards others are on the rise, distances are otherwise shrinking or disap- pearing to the point that the right to privacy scarcely exists. Everything has become a kind of spectacle to be examined and inspected, and people’s lives are now under constant surveillance. Digital communication wants to bring everything out into the open; people’s lives are combed over, laid bare and bandied about, often anonymously. Respect for oth- ers disintegrates, and even as we dismiss, ignore or keep others distant, we can shame- lessly peer into every detail of their lives. Digital campaigns of hatred and destruc- tion, for their part, are not – as some would have us believe – a positive form of mutual support, but simply an association of individ- uals united against a perceived common ene- my. “Digital media can also expose people to the risk of addiction, isolation and a gradual loss of contact with concrete reality, blocking the development of authentic interpersonal relationships”. They lack the physical ges- tures, facial expressions, moments of silence, body language and even the smells, the trem- bling of hands, the blushes and perspiration that speak to us and are a part of human communication. Digital relationships, which do not demand the slow and gradual cultiva- tion of friendships, stable interaction or the building of a consensus that matures over time, have the appearance of sociability. Yet they do not really build community; instead, they tend to disguise and expand the very individualism that finds expression in xeno- phobia and in contempt for the vulnerable. Digital connectivity is not enough to build bridges. It is not capable of uniting humanity. Even as individuals maintain their com- See FRANCIS on Page 5 SEEKING COUNCIL NOMINATIONS: Nominations are being sought for four spots on the parish Pastoral Council. The Council meets monthly for one hour, except in the summer, and is the primary consultative body to the pastor on all aspects of parish life. If you are interested in serving on the Council, or in learning more, contact Joan Kleist, Council chairperson, at [email protected]. Also, if there’s someone you think would be a good person to serve on the Council, please encourage them, or nominate them and we’ll confirm their willingness to serve. The deadline is May 16. “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” Charles Wesley
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We continue a series of excerpts from Pope Francis’ recent encyclical, Fratelli Tutti — “all brothers and sisters.” Several dozen parishioners recently partici-pated in a discussion series in which many were struck by his awareness of the “real world” and the challenge of his message. In this excerpt the Holy Father addresses “the illusion of communication.” ODDLY ENOUGH, WHILE closed and intol-
erant attitudes towards others are on the rise, distances are otherwise shrinking or disap-pearing to the point that the right to privacy scarcely exists. Everything has become a kind of spectacle to be examined and inspected, and people’s lives are now under constant surveillance. Digital communication wants to bring everything out into the open; people’s lives are combed over, laid bare and bandied about, often anonymously. Respect for oth-ers disintegrates, and even as we dismiss, ignore or keep others distant, we can shame-lessly peer into every detail of their lives. Digital campaigns of hatred and destruc-tion, for their part, are not – as some would have us believe – a positive form of mutual support, but simply an association of individ-uals united against a perceived common ene-my. “Digital media can also expose people to the risk of addiction, isolation and a gradual loss of contact with concrete reality, blocking the development of authentic interpersonal relationships”. They lack the physical ges-tures, facial expressions, moments of silence, body language and even the smells, the trem-bling of hands, the blushes and perspiration that speak to us and are a part of human communication. Digital relationships, which do not demand the slow and gradual cultiva-tion of friendships, stable interaction or the building of a consensus that matures over time, have the appearance of sociability. Yet they do not really build community; instead, they tend to disguise and expand the very individualism that finds expression in xeno-phobia and in contempt for the vulnerable. Digital connectivity is not enough to build bridges. It is not capable of uniting humanity. Even as individuals maintain their com-
See FRANCIS on Page 5
SEEKING COUNCIL NOMINATIONS: Nominations are being sought for four spots on
the parish Pastoral Council. The Council meets monthly for one hour, except in the
summer, and is the primary consultative body to the pastor on all aspects of parish
life. If you are interested in serving on the Council, or in learning more, contact Joan
Kleist, Council chairperson, at [email protected]. Also, if there’s someone you
think would be a good person to serve on the Council, please encourage them, or
nominate them and we’ll confirm their willingness to serve. The deadline is May 16.
“Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” Charles Wesley
ST. ANNE PARISH
715.849.3930 | stanneswausau.org 700 W. Bridge St., Wausau WI 54401
calls “friends,” to love one another as he loves them. He uses the word “love” as a verb or a noun nine times. He also employs the word “command” or “commandment” five times. His command to love one another is explicit. Those who understand the depth of Christ’s love for us have reason to be joy-ful. We are called to be stewards of this lov-ing friendship; to love one another as Jesus loves us. Do we give serious attention to what this love requires of us? What is the price of this friendship with the Lord? Are we willing to pay this price to keep Christ’s friendship?
Dismissal The presider says, “Christ is risen!” All respond, He is risen indeed!
MONDAY 10 MAY / Acts 16:11-15/Jn 15:26-16:4
TUESDAY 11 MAY / Acts 16:22-34/Jn 16:5-11
• 7 AM - Mass +Dale Robinson & Isidoro Carpentero
WEDNESDAY 12 MAY / Acts 17:15,22-18:1/Jn
16:12-15
• 8:15 AM - School Mass +Ed, Gert, & Dawn
Burek
THURSDAY 13 MAY / Acts 18:1-8/Jn 16:16-20
• 8:15 AM - School Mass +Don Steckbauer
FRIDAY 14 MAY / Acts 1:15-17,20-26/Jn 15:9-17
• 7 AM - Mass -Special Intention
SATURDAY 15 MAY / Acts 18:23-28/Jn 16:23-28
• 9 AM - Reconciliation
SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION
OF THE LORD | 15/16 MAY Acts 1:1-11/Eph 1:17-23/Mk 16:15-20
• 4 PM Saturday +Len Johnson - LIVESTREAM
• 8:30 AM Sunday -People of St. Anne Parish
- LIVESTREAM
• 10:30 AM Sunday +Jean Urmanski - LIVESTREAM
• 12:30 PM Sunday - Confirmation - LIVESTREAM
Links to the readings listed above can be
found at stanneswausau.org, along with a
daily video reflection.
CONFIRMATION will be celebrated at all
Masses next weekend, which will include
two morning Masses and an additional
Mass at 12:30 p.m. All four liturgies will
be livestreamed.
FRANCIS / from Page 1
fortable consumerist isolation, they can choose a form of constant and febrile bond-ing that encourages remarkable hostility, in-sults, abuse, defamation and verbal violence destructive of others, and this with a lack of restraint that could not exist in physical con-tact without tearing us all apart. Social aggres-sion has found unparalleled room for expan-sion through computers and mobile devices. This has now given free rein to ideolo-gies. Things that until a few years ago could not be said by anyone without risking the loss of universal respect can now be said with impunity, and in the crudest of terms, even by some political figures. Nor should we forget that “there are huge economic interests oper-ating in the digital world, capable of exercising forms of control as subtle as they are invasive, creating mechanisms for the manipulation of consciences and of the democratic process. The way many platforms work often ends up favouring encounter between persons who think alike, shielding them from debate. These closed circuits facilitate the spread of fake news and false information, fomenting preju-dice and hate.” We should also recognize that destructive forms of fanaticism are at times found among religious believers, including Christians; they
too “can be caught up in networks of verbal violence through the internet and the various forums of digital communication. Even in Catholic media, limits can be overstepped,
defamation and slander can become com-monplace, and all ethical standards and re-spect for the good name of others can be abandoned.” How can this contribute to the fraternity that our common Father asks of us? True wisdom demands an encounter with reality. Today, however, everything can be created, disguised and altered. A direct en-counter even with the fringes of reality can thus prove intolerable. A mechanism of selec-tion then comes into play, whereby I can im-mediately separate likes from dislikes, what I consider attractive from what I deem distaste-ful. In the same way, we can choose the peo-ple with whom we wish to share our world. Persons or situations we find unpleasant or disagreeable are simply deleted in today’s vir-tual networks; a virtual circle is then created,
isolating us from the real world in which we are living. The ability to sit down and listen to oth-ers, typical of interpersonal encounters, is paradigmatic of the welcoming attitude shown by those who transcend narcissism and accept others, caring for them and welcoming them into their lives. Yet “today’s world is largely a deaf world… At times, the frantic pace of the modern world prevents us from listening at-tentively to what another person is saying. Halfway through, we interrupt him and want to contradict what he has not even finished saying. We must not lose our ability to listen”. Saint Francis “heard the voice of God, he heard the voice of the poor, he heard the voice of the infirm and he heard the voice of nature. He made of them a way of life. My desire is that the seed that Saint Francis plant-ed may grow in the hearts of many.” As silence and careful listening disappear, replaced by a frenzy of texting, this basic structure of sage human communication is at risk. A new lifestyle is emerging, where we create only what we want and exclude all that we cannot control or know instantly and su-perficially. This process, by its intrinsic logic, blocks the kind of serene reflection that could lead us to a shared wisdom.